Thematic
From SentryOutpost
Craigslists from May 4/5 and onward are here: Narrative Orders
Contents |
[edit] Cemetary/Angel
[This theme collects vignettes centering on the cemetary and the angel statue]
[edit] The soul of the city - w4m (Prague)
Date: 2007-04-25, 6:11PM CEST
You: Running in
Me: Running out
The stones line up one after another. Long since abandoned, it's
the one place in the city that's sure to be empty. A place to
think, to relax, to get away. A place where nobody will judge you.
Old statues are scattered throughout, works of art appreciated only
by the birds and me. I make my way towards the forgotten angel. Her
features were weathered away long ago, her face pocked by the rain,
her finger broken and lying on the ground. And then I heard
it.
Did you?
[edit] The Forgotton Angel - w4m (Harrisonburg)
Date: 2007-04-28, 2:17AM EDT
You: At the statue
Me: Meeting a friend
It's hard not to appreciate the beauty here. The grounds ache for
someone to care, but that hardly matters. Nature paints her own
canvas and man just can not compete. As I wind my way through, on
paths marked only by the absence of gravestones, I can see her
trying to grab the moon. I watch as the moon dances just out of her
reach.
'ennahom yadunana abra Azif wa nahknu nastajeeb
I hear it from a distance knowing that, by the time I arrive,
you'll be there. A shortcut through the graves, perhaps, showing no
appreciation for the scenery that surrounds you. You walk around
the statue to greet me, rubbing against her as you go. I watch as
you walk towards me, stepping on her finger that lies broken on the
ground. When I heard the scream, I couldn't help but wonder if it
was her.
[edit] 'ennahom yadunana - w4m (Harrisonburg)
Date: 2007-05-01, 10:41PM EDT
You: Prowling around
Me: Passing by
I leave her there, broken, and wind my way through the stone lined
paths. From this distance, I can see the crowd gathered around the
old tower, their chants are nothing more than a muffled rhythm, a
melodic hum that fits the mood of this place. We pass at the gate �
the discordant scream silencing your whispers.
[edit] A house fortified - w4m (Maine)
Date: 2007-04-28, 8:46PM EDT
You: Locked inside
Me: Surrounded
I disappeared through the crowd and worked my way to the other
side of town. Nobody noticed me, nobody stopped me. Faceless
strangers walked by as if I did not exist. After a while, I stopped
hearing the screams that I knew were there.
Your old house at the edge of the woods called to me. It always
has. The gothic architecture has stood for generations. The iron
gate didn't make a sound as I swung it open. I was wandering
towards the back when I heard the first growl. Then another. Then
another.
I was surrounded.
I heard the scraping of metal against metal. Someone shouted my
name. I ran towards them. The hole was just big enough for me to
crawl through.
She dropped the shovel and we ran.
[edit] Stop the madness - w4m (Montana)
Date: 2007-05-02, 3:35AM MDT
You: Deranged
Me: Enlightened
The buildings blur as we run past them. The unspeakable fear rises
around us. It drives us forward. It makes us mad. We zig and zag
through a maze of alleys and streets. It's as if we have hope of
escape.
It's the run of the insane.
You don't escape from this life. You live it. You fall in and you
fall out when it your time.
No sooner. No later.
My choice is to stop running.
To experience. To explore. To learn. To live.
[edit] Touching an angel - w4w (Manchester)
Date: 2007-05-02, 6:47PM BST
You: Dreaming
Me: Tired
Tonight has seemed never-ending. Insecurity and confusion have
latched on to me. This is not who I am. This place is not where I
am supposed to be.
The path to the angel is well-worn from my nightly visits. I sit on
the ground and lean up against the cold stone base. Even from this
low on the ground, the view is spectacular. Tangling vines envelope
forgotten headstones creating hauntingly beautiful sculptures. The
moonlight shimmers off the dew kissed leaves.
I look up at the sky. The faceless angel and her moon halo, her
arm stretched high into the sky. Her broken finger rests just
inches from my own. I ache for her.
My fingers stretch out to touch hers. It's cold and wet from
laying on the ground. There is nothing that I can do. Not tonight.
Next time, I will come prepared. Next time, I will fix her.
You will help me.
[edit] Tower
[This theme is all about the mysterious tower]
[edit] For a good time call - w4m (Sao Paulo)
Date: 2007-05-02, 7:26AM BRT
You: Making your mark
Me: Wishing you had left your number
The Wall is on the far side of the city. It's a popular place.
People come to make their mark and to see who has left theirs. It's
an ever-changing piece of street art - the public version of the
bathroom stall.
I watch as you gather ashes from the ground and carefully choose
your spot. You look serious. A message for someone lost? A
statement of what you've become?
As I wait for you to finish, I look around. There are hundreds of
names. Anders, Barbara, Chorazos- Each name is a statement of faith
- faith that they'll be back, that someone is looking for them,
that someone might be found.
When you walk away, I see it:
For a good time call.
Finally. Someone else in this damn place with a sense of
humor.
For the first time, I feel the desire to immortalize myself in
this place. I grab a handful of ashes and mix them with a little of
my own blood. Under his message, I add my own touch - B A
[edit] Rising from the ashes - w4m (Budapest)
Date: 2007-05-02, 3:49PM CEST
You: On your way
Me: Following behind
As I wipe my hands across the grass, I see the old tower up on the
hill. If it weren't so aged, I would have thought someone was
trying to start a new city out of the ashes of the old - this tower
evidence of their grand plans. The moonlight catches it as it
pierces through the smoke. It is no wonder that a crowd is
gathering. It's a remarkable site. A dozen people, maybe more, have
passed by me since I first noticed it. Each of them is headed up
that way. Curious, I watch as they walk in reverent silence staring
in awe at the site ahead of them.
Something calls to me to follow. I do.
[edit] The top of the hill - w4m (Asheville)
Date: 2007-05-02, 7:45AM EDT
You: Standing at the gate
Me: Without a key
The moonlight filtered through the smoke casting an eerie glow
over the hillside. I stumbled through the rocky terrain as I worked
my way up towards the gathering crowd. My fear grew with each step,
my desire to participate strengthening with each fall. When I
finally arrived at the top and the tower was fully in view, I was
blocked by you. You stood in front of me and placed your hands on
my shoulders. You probed me for answers but there were none to
give.
I had no purpose.
I had no intent.
I was there.
I was curious.
I wanted to see.
I wanted to know.
You were the guardian of the hillside and you would not let me
pass.
[edit] Building/elevator
[These vignettes are about the building and smoke, etc.]
[edit] Going up? - w4w (Miami)
Date: 2007-04-25, 12:04AM EDT
You: Going up
Me: Going down
Piercing screams broke through the window
shattering the hopes of any sleep that I was going to get. I
looked outside but couldn't see anything through the smoke. It
wasn't safe, I knew that. I had to get out. Running down the hall,
I passed the stairs. crowded. Too many people. Too much
panic.
I ran to the elevator. It's not the right thing to do, but it's
the only thing I could do. I could be trapped but, like every other
night, I knew I wouldn't be. I pushed the button and watched
seven...eight...nine... would it get here in time?
...eleven...twelve..."Going up?" "DOWN!"
...fourteen...fifteen...come on, come
on...seventeen...eighteen...seventeen...sixteen...hurry
up...fourteen...I squeeze in. You're no where to be
found...twelve...eleven...ten...nine...........
[edit] Caught in the crowd - w4w (Little Rock)
Date: 2007-04-24, 11:59PM CDT
You: The single mother
Me: The only child
The weight of the crowd pushes me out the door and, for the first
time, I see the city streets. There are people everywhere. It's
complete madness. A little girl is pushed to the side, alone. She's
crying for her daddy and, as I go to help her, you scold her for
letting go of your hand, for reaching out to another. I tried to
explain that I only wanted to help, but you turned your head and
walked away. Your daughter looks back at me - scared and wanting
nothing more than to be in her daddy's arms.
[edit] Trapped - w4w (Detroit)
Date: 2007-04-25, 11:30AM EDT
You: Inviting me in
Me: Wanting to leave
Chasing my dream, I stumbled across the building. Everything about
it seemed familiar but I knew I'd never seen it before. Something
called to me. The building was dark. The fires burning outside
casting shadows on the walls. Muffled sounds echoed through the
hall. Sounds of pain. I walked down to see if I could help. Room
after room was empty. Shredded curtains covering broken windows.
You met me at the end of the hall and told me to go in. I did. The
door slammed behind me. The smell of her rotting flesh lingers in
the air. Choking me. There's no way out.
[edit] Can you die in a dream? - w4m (Cleveland)
Date: 2007-04-25, 5:44PM EDT
You: A lifesaver
Me: Ready to jump
Minutes pass. Then hours. The cries grow louder.
There is nothing that I can do. There is nothing to do.
Alone.
Somebody will come.
Somebody will hear them.
Somebody will know them.
Somebody will save me.
Somebody will need me.
The window.
Four stories.
A long drop.
A hard street.
The only way.
[edit] Standing out from the crowd - w4w (Spokane)
Date: 2007-05-02, 4:05AM PDT
You: Looking for directions
Me: Making my own way
Screams echo throughout the room drowning out
any thought of sleep I once had. Smoke covered the window
and I knew that I had to get out. It's not safe here. Families
trying to stay together fill the hall, pushing their way towards
the stairs. Floors and floors of people pushing and shoving their
way through the confined space. The elevator is still running, but
it's only a matter of time. The elevator is full but manages to
accept another two or three people on every floor.
When we reach the ground floor, the momentum of the crowd forces
me through the doors. Outside, nobody is thinking. They're just
standing there looking. Just standing there waiting for something
to happen and for someone to tell them what to do. It's unsettling
and, as nothing happens, panic and chaos will take over. It's
starting already.
I have to get out of here.
[edit] Cave
[Here are the vignettes about the cave]
[edit] Enjoying the peace - w4m (Atlanta)
Date: 2007-04-27, 11:25PM EDT
You: Running in circles
Me: Moving on
We make our way through the hostile forest, neither of us knowing
what creatures lurk in the shadows. The wind howls its psychic
warnings through the trees. The curiosity of what awaits on the
other side drives us forward.
The trees begin to give way to a meadow. We dance through the red
clover, the catnip, the dogbane. You run ahead, jumping in the air,
chasing the butterflies. I hear the splash when you hit the water.
A lake. It's then that I notice the silence and the fresh
air.
Standing at the edge, I look down and marvel at the reflection
looking back it me. I don't recognize the face, though I know it's
my own. It spooks me to think that this is how I look in this
bizarre supernatural world. You splash me, twisting the reflection
into ghostly shapes.
The cool water feels good against my skin. I take off my shoes and
wade in the water. Digging my toes into the muddy ground and
skimming slime-coated pebbles across the water. Ripples spread and
merge. Circles upon circles. Temporary sculptures on the still
surface.
And then the realization hits. There is no hint of danger. No
fear. No madness. It's ordinary. It's too ordinary. You want to
stay. I can't stop you, but it's time to move on. It's time to
explore.
I make my way towards the hills on the other side of the lake.
There's a small cave hidden behind the rocks. Lonely, I call for
you to follow - a gesture done in vain. You're too busy chasing
your own tail, running in circles... enjoying the peace. I enter
the cave. I hear the scream.
[edit] Descent into Madness - w4w (Fargo)
Date: 2007-04-28, 7:26AM CDT
You: Screaming for your life
Me: Running for mine
Running from whatever is outside, I descend deeper into the cave.
It's only when I stop to catch my breath that I realize there is no
longer any light. Darkness that I've never seen before. I spin
around hoping to see something... anything. Nothing.
And then the screaming started.
[edit] Lost forever, but safe - w4w (Bangalore)
Date: 2007-04-28, 11:14PM IST
You: Lurking in the shadows
Me: Looking for the light
I must not have been running in the dark for long. I would have
noticed. I would have run into something. Think. That last turn,
was it left or was it right? Feel for the walls. Listen for the
cries. They must be coming from the lake. I can follow them. I can
get out. To face what? I'm safe here. Lost forever, but safe.
Just find some light. Hide in the shadows. Wait.
Listen for the screams. Follow them.
The echoes are confusing, but I can do this. I drag my hand along
the wall, turning as it does. Stopping and listening for the
screams. They're louder. This is right. They're quieter. This is
wrong.
An hour passes, maybe two. I see a shadow. I see light.
I see you.
[edit] Telling secrets - w4w (Philadelphia)
Date: 2007-04-28, 5:11PM EDT
You: Curled up in the corner
Me: Holding your hand
Sitting there in the corner of that cave, it hit me. We aren't all
that different, you and me. Our lives, here in this place, are the
same. We walk the same streets, see the same people, run from the
same things. We've both been through the same hell. I knew it the
moment I looked in your eyes.
It's amazing what people will share in those quiet times. The
secrets they tell. Talking it out helps. It puts the burden on
someone else and lets you move on.
I'm glad we walked out of that cave together. I'm glad that I'm
not alone.
[edit] Old woman
[This theme relates to the old crone]
[edit] A good book - w4w (Indianapolis)
Date: 2007-04-25, 1:08PM EDT
You: Sitting on the steps
Me: Across the street
I make my way up the street, greeting my neighbors as I pass. We
each have our place. The man standing on the corner, the dog
growling behind the fence, the old woman picking through the
trash.
The girl is new.
Sitting on the library steps, her nose in a book. We all have our
ways of escaping madness. This must be hers. I watch for a few
minutes. She blinks and turns the page.
The boys on their skateboards race down the street. I pull the old
woman out of the way. I do this every night.
I hear a scream.
I turn my head.
The girl is gone.
[edit] An old soul - w4w (Denver)
Date: 2007-04-25, 1:44PM MDT
You: The crone
Me: A friendly face
Startled, you give me an apple. A kind gesture in this dark world.
As we walk down the street, men hurl obscenities, children cover
their faces, and women toss scornful glances. Your face is
weathered not from fear, but from experience. Experience they will
never know. Experience I want to know. As we approach the edge of
town, you turn back. I go to follow, but stop. The path, I realize,
must be my own.
[edit] The old woman on the bench - w4w (Orlando)
Date: 2007-04-27, 11:47PM EDT
You: A familiar face
Me: A stranger in a frame
Night after night, I find myself here in this city of madness. The
faces are familiar to me now - the man standing on the corner, the
dog growling behind the fence, the old woman sorting through her
belongings.
I wander over to the bench where she's sitting. She smiles and
invites me to sit. I watch as she carefully picks up her precious
heirlooms - an old note, a well-worn book, a faded
photograph.
A photograph of me.
For the first time all day, I'm awake.
[edit] Stopping to smell the roses - w4m (Delaware)
Date: 2007-05-01, 11:26PM EDT
You: Caught up in the madness
Me: Appreciating the beauty
I push my way through the crowd hoping to find comfort in the
familiar - the man standing on the corner, the dog growling behind
the fence, the old woman selling roses.
I laugh as people rush by her, disgusted that at the very idea of
someone selling roses here, now. They curse her for blocking the
sidewalk and spit at her feet as they pass. She just stands there
arranging the flowers - a bit of peace in this crazy world.
I stop to buy a dozen. As I walk away, I pull out a flower and
give it to her. She holds it to her nose letting the fragrant peach
petals take her to a different place.
[edit] Is nowhere safe? - w4w (Oklahoma City)
Date: 2007-05-01, 11:24PM CDT
You: Pulling me away
Me: Knocking on the door
Suddenly, the street around me erupts in chaos. The screaming mass
pushes me towards the building as they rush to get past.
I bang on the door. Somebody must be inside. I have to warn them. I
have to tell them to get out.
You grab my arm and look to the sky. My eyes follow.
I drop the flowers and I run.
[edit] Chased away - w4m (Amsterdam)
Date: 2007-04-28, 9:36PM CEST
You: Lost in the crowd
Me: Trying to disappear
Bloody footprints chase after me as I rush through the crowd
gathered in the street. I try to make myself invisible. I rip at my
clothes. I mess up my hair. I can look like them. I can fade
away.
[edit] "CityLife"
[This theme collects vignettes dealing with bars, diners, restaurants, etc.]
[edit] Escaping from it all - w4m (Seattle)
Date: 2007-04-25, 6:02AM PDT
You: Running past
Me: Sitting back
On the other side of the road, I spotted a diner. Amidst all this
madness and all this pain, people are taking the time to be human
and to do the things they always do. A cup of coffee, a piece of
pie, conversations about the weather... it's a bit overcast, but
the sun might peak through the smoke later today. Have they lost
their minds or have I lost mine? I made my way over, hoping that
the mundane will seep into my bones. There are tables outside, most
are empty. I sat down for a moment. Just a moment. Closing my eyes,
I tried to get away. I heard your voice as you ran past. By the
time I realized and got up, you were gone. I followed, but you
weren't there.
[edit] Broken Dreams - w4w (New York)
Date: 2007-04-24, 11:54PM EDT
You: Looking to the future
Me: Looking at the past
The wrong turn at the wrong time and I'm standing in an alley
surrounded by tweekers oblivious to the world around them. The
music drowns out the screams and the smoke catches the lights. It's
just another party thrown up between a couple abandoned buildings.
This night is no different than any other. But, you know. You're
standing up on your fire escape, as you have so many nights,
looking at the madness below. The light reflecting off the metal in
your face catches my eye. The look in yours shows that you've not
given up. You have hope. There's a way out. You will find it.
[edit] Drink Macabre - w4w (San Diego)
Date: 2007-04-27, 9:55PM PDT
You: Wanting to drink
Me: Next to you at the bar
The erratic flickering of the neon sign caught my attention.
Now Serving.
The building was nondescript. A diner? A bar? It didn't matter, my
throat was dry and I was anxious to get the acrid taste of smoke
out of my mouth. When I walked in, the place was packed. I walked
up to the bar and sat down on the only unoccupied stool, next to
you.
You nodded at the bartender as he walked by and, as you hoped, he
put a glass down in front of you and began pouring. The viscous
fluid flowed out of the carafe. As the glass filled you nodded
again. He continued to pour even as it overflowed the glass and ran
down the counter. You shout at him to stop, but he continues, the
liquid coursing over the ledge. Angry, you get up to leave. Your
dress is soaked in blood. He begins to explain, but it's too late.
You were already gone.
[edit] Dance of the damned - w4m (Auckland)
Date: 2007-05-02, 3:52PM NZST
You: Masked Man
Me: Damsel in distress
The murky air sits over the city choking anyone that dares pass
through it. I stopped at a nearby cafe to get some water and
attempt to catch my breath. As I sipped my water, I watched the
flames dance with the gargoyles on the building across the street.
A crowd gathered to watch as the flames hopped from partner to
partner. You stood out with your mask covering your face. Was it
something you brought with you or did you buy it nearby? I got up
to ask you but, before you could answer, the car swerved between
us. I didn't even notice the gargoyle shattered in the road -
dropped when the flames looked for a new partner. I did notice that
the car came to a stop only after it crushed the chair I had just
been sitting in.
[edit] Headed to war - w4m (East Village) (New York)
Date: 2007-04-28, 10:21PM EDT
You: A brave man
Me: A grateful citizen
As I walk down the street, it's the people that stand out. The
artist, the immigrant, the punk. They're always the first to save a
dying neighborhood paving the way for the yuppies to come in and
kill the culture that drove them there in the first place. Have
they come too soon or are they too late?
The tattoo parlor, the sandwich shop. Memories of a time gone
by.
I hear the sirens approach and get out of the way. They're headed
to a war they can't win. We all know it. They know it. But when
you're surrounded by chaos, sometimes the only way to cope is to do
what you know. If fighting fires is what you know, then it's what
you do.
[edit] Living in the shadows - w4m (East Village) (New York)
Date: 2007-05-02, 10:32AM EDT
You: Starved for food
Me: Unable to eat
I wander up the street making myself at home in the shadows. You
grab me just outside of a little Vietnamese place. The gaunt
expression on your face says it all.
I open the door, the stench is almost overwhelming. The restaurant
is tiny and two tables fill its space. A welcome feeling of
claustrophobia surrounds me. If I can feel this, then just maybe
I'm not a part of the madness. I order a sandwich and sit down at
the open table. I look over at the other - three friends with two
that don't seem willing to speak to each other. It's tense and my I
try to imagine what horrors they've seen. What could be so bad as
to divide friends?
Suddenly the fear comes rushing in, taking the place of any
appetite that I once had. I head back outside. As I walk past, I
hand you what's left of my lunch. You grab it from me and rush back
into the shadows. The madness is your home.
[edit] Am I mad? - w4w (Pittsburgh)
Date: 2007-05-02, 8:41AM EDT
You: Crying in pain
Me: Walking on by
Have I lost my edge? The more that I'm here, the more oblivious I
become. I used to notice every horrifying scream and each stray
shadow. The unknown lurking in the air kept me on guard. It kept me
safe.
I didn't even notice you standing there in the alcove until after
I had passed by. I would have helped.
Am I part of the madness or have I separated myself from it?
[edit] Outside the City
[These vignettes seem to take place out of town]
[edit] Faith unquestioned - w4m (Washington, DC)
Date: 2007-04-25, 5:23PM EDT
You: Going back
Me: Moving forward
I turned to look back at what I just left. The city cries in pain,
cursed in ways I can't even imagine. The only hope is to move
forward and to find my future. A group has gathered. They are
arguing over nothing, over everything. There is no order, no logic.
There is only fear and distrust.
Someone points to the tracks but nobody listens. They can't be
trusted. They know too much. They don't know enough.
I speak up. I point to the tracks. Some follow. Some don't. The
decision is theirs. The decision is ours. We say farewell and go
our separate ways.
We hear the screams. Nobody looks back. The future is in front of
us.
[edit] Leaving town - w4m (St. Louis)
Date: 2007-04-24, 11:56PM CDT
You: Looking for a lift
Me: Making it on my own
The tracks are long deserted. The last train to run down them was
over thirty years ago. And while the trains no longer run, it's a
clear path out of the city, one of the many that lead to the hills
in the distance. This is no shortcut, but it's a peaceful journey
as the sounds of the city fade behind us. Off in the distance we
see a car driving down the old country roads. Where it's going
isn't clear. People want to wait for it hoping that it's heading
this way. It's foolish to make the journey on my own so,
reluctantly, I head back towards the city to find others.
[edit] Standing on the edge - w4w (Burlington)
Date: 2007-04-25, 8:44AM EDT
You: Hoping, dreaming
Me: Dreaming, hoping.
The closer that I get to the city, the darker it gets and the more
I feel the madness taking over. It's in the eyes of the people I
pass. The fight to make it out, with or without the mind in tact,
takes its toll. Each face looks more haggard than the last. Until
yours. You don't succumb to the terror within. While the others are
busy experiencing it, you observe it. You study it. You want to
live it. But not here, not now. You know that your time will come.
As I walk by, I know it, too.
[edit] Islands in the road - w4w (Osaka)
Date: 2007-04-28, 10:05PM JT
You: Ready to give up
Me: Fighting for you
The city rises up in the distance. People pouring out of it.
We fight our way through the street, going against the crowd.
Everyone avoiding the corpses littering the way. Islands in the
road covered with bird picking at the bones.
You look at me. Your eyes give you away. You're too weak to fight,
too exhausted to go on. The only thing pushing you forward is
knowing that, if you stop, we'll be stepping around you as the
vultures circle around. The only question is if they'll wait until
you're dead before fighting over your flesh.
I catch you as you collapse. I grab you by the waist and throw you
over my shoulder. The birds circle my head. I run.
[edit] Saying goodbye - w4m (Cedar Rapids)
Date: 2007-04-28, 6:42PM CDT
You: The caretaker
Me: Leaving things behind
You were there when I dropped her off. I didn't want to leave her,
but there was no other way. We had our own roads ahead of us,
things we had to do. Truth be told, she was the one that carried
me. I could never have made it through it all without her. She
believed in me and, while there was no reason to, it gave me the
strength to go forward.
You told me that you'd watch over her. I hope you kept your
promise.
[edit] Meta
[This theme includes the 'dreaming/awake' bits that seem to bracket the dreams]
[edit] Are you awake? - w4m (Buenos Aires)
Date: 2007-04-25, 5:21PM ART
You: Dreaming
Me: Awake
The piercing screams break through the window
shattering the hopes of any sleep that I was going to get. I
turn on the coffee maker and head outside to grab the paper. The
fresh air fills my lungs, cooling my nerves and reminding me that
this is only a dream.
[edit] Rise and ? - w4w (New Orleans)
Date: 2007-04-28, 5:19PM CDT
You: Dreaming
Me: Awake
I turn on the coffee maker and head to the computer. I want to get
it all down and to find the others. The light from the screen swims
inside my eyes. I reach for the aspirin and I type.
[edit] Morning? - w4w (London)
Date: 2007-05-02, 9:11AM BST
You: Dreaming
Me: Awake
The scream echoes through my head drowning out
any thought of sleep I once had. I turn on the coffee maker
and head outside. The soft light of the moon washes over me
reminding me that this is only a dream.